We need to figure something out with sound for Double H

LAST EDITED ON Oct-09-03 AT 11:51 PM (EDT)

Gentlemen,Along time ago I downloaded the K-36's off of this site. I was at first very impressed, and still am, but I am not impressed at all much with the audio. Everytime I go to run a double or triple header, the sound becomes even worse. The sound is ok when one runs them by themselves, but when you run a double header, its bad...First off all the engines exhaust noise, basically goes kaput, and the tender noise or the blower noise becomes 3 times louder, so all you hear going down the line is hissing and clickity clack. I LOVE a hard working engine, and all I run in that game is K-36's anymore. I love to take 5 minutes just to start a 35 car train on a 4% grade with a mid-train helper consist. And to run at about 5 mph with sanders on and wide open. Is it possible for us to fix these errors? I think it would be kind of a final thing for that new Cumbres Pass route soon to be in the FL by Andy Miller (Can't wait Andy!! Great work man!). I have a few sources for Audio if needed. Recordings, made with professional audio equipment, done in the early nineties. Some have GREAT whistle sounds, I mean FABULOUS, stuff that'll give you goose bumps, that we could use also. And almost all of the recordings are made of the engines on the 4%. Working especially hard on a huge train made up for the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway, in I think '94, it was about a 35 or so car train, half of it was a freight train, the rest was passenger cars, so the Friends could ride behind it.Unfortunatly I don't know how to do any of these things, so you guys will all have to help me out, those of you who care of course!! If truley, any of you do though, really, maybe it doesn't matter to any of you, we'll see!
Thanks alot fellas, for everything, this "game" is all ive got until im running at the C&TS! Which will be SOON!
P.S. I have about 5 locomotives that are all having troubles, that I have made in TSM, maybe those can be "revived". If anyone is interested in those, let me know...
Kevin Bush,

I will have my hand on the throttle of a K-36 very soon Mon Freunds!

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RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, philskene, Oct-10-03, 00:46 AM, (1) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, krswen, Oct-10-03, 07:27 AM, (2) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, CumbresEngineer, Oct-10-03, 08:23 AM, (3) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, CumbresEngineer, Oct-10-03, 08:25 AM, (4) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, philskene, Oct-10-03, 04:59 PM, (5) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, CumbresEngineer, Oct-10-03, 11:55 PM, (6) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, philskene, Oct-11-03, 08:53 AM, (7) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, CumbresEngineer, Oct-11-03, 09:36 PM, (8) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, philskene, Oct-12-03, 00:25 AM, (9) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, CumbresEngineer, Oct-12-03, 02:18 AM, (10) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, philskene, Oct-12-03, 05:19 AM, (11) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, K36487, Oct-12-03, 04:52 PM, (12) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, philskene, Oct-12-03, 06:43 PM, (13) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, CumbresEngineer, Oct-12-03, 09:13 PM, (14) RE: We need to figure something out with sound for Doub, jonathanmlewis, Oct-14-03, 04:51 PM, (15)

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Kevin –The basic issue here is that in MSTS only the lead locomotive makes the full suite of external sounds specified in the ***eng.sms file.The helper locomotives only make a sub-set – this includes the clickity-clack track sound, the turbo generator and a couple of other sounds.Question:
Are you using the same locomotive twice (or thrice)?As a suggestion:If you are NOT using the same loco as a helper or helpers, try using my method in this forum under “Adjusting Whistle Volume” to increase the sound of the chuff-chuff in the lead loco 2 (or 3) times.Or add a line
Volume ( 0.5 )
or some such value that suits you, for the helper locomotives for all their sounds.And try the same for the tenders.I know that this is not an elegant solution. Perhaps others have a better answer?Once again, make backups, and use WordPad to edit the ***eng.sms files.Phil

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Since the sim won't play helpers as a function of throttle position, I've sort of given up.What I do is create two additional .eng files for every locomotive. It's less effort than it sounds like! I use Route-Riter (just a couple of mouse clicks) to create an AI version which I only use as traffic trains and helper locomotives at mid- or back of train locations. These use sounds that are keyed to loco speed in fairly fine steps.Then I run that same file through Route-Riter again, remove the remaining engine sound call and make a xxxxxCon.eng file. I use these versions for locos directly behind the lead loco. You only hear one loco but it's better than having conflicting sounds.When I'm going to run an activity I use Train Store to identify the consists, then ConBuilder to edit them with my replacement locos.It only takes a few minute once you get used to it and makes the simulation much better.Also, by removing all but the most basic light calls from the AI and Con eng files, you don't run into the problem of too many light streams and having the signals go black.krswen

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Actually, I think I still have the .con file for it, but along time ago I made about a 50 car train. I can start that thing almost no problem on a 4% grade, because the 2 other engines DO help.
I think I read your post right.Kevin Bush,

I will have my hand on the throttle of a K-36 very soon Mon Freunds!

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Phil, your gonna have to describe that to me in a little bit greater detail please. Those .eng file confuse the crap out of me. The whole time all I can think is, "how can someone make this?".Thanks,
Kevin Bush,

I will have my hand on the throttle of a K-36 very soon Mon Freunds!

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Kevin -If you tell me which locomotive you want to use in the lead and which locomotive as a helper I'll download them and work up revised files for you. But they have to be different locomotives, the lead loco will make twice as much noise and the second very little. This means that you will only be able to use them as a coupled pair. Is this what you want?It might take a few days to do though - I'm a tad busy with a few other projects at the moment.Phil

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I usually like to run 487 on the head end of a double header because it is weathered. But is it possible to make that double header sound in MSTS? That off beat exhaust.Sure wish we could. I wonder if we could make a sound file for double headers only, to where we just take audio recordings of double headers and cut the recordings up to make the speed changes and what not. I don't know, maybe im over my head on this!Thanks again Phil.Kevin Bush,

I will have my hand on the throttle of a K-36 very soon Mon Freunds!

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Kevin -Sorry - but I should have read your last post before I sat down and spent the last half hour trying to get a double header sound from a single locomotive.I was much easier than I thought, and the result is actually VERY VERY impressive, but it's for K36 - 483. Will this do for you?If you can provide me with an e-mail address I will send you a substitute .sms and .eng file that you can just copy into the K36 folder. If you want to send me you e-mail address off line, you'll find my address in the readme of one of my uploads to the file library. Just look under "skene".Best,
Phil

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I don't have my own email address, it is my families.But here it is! Jemabush@tconl.comKevin Bush,

I will have my hand on the throttle of a K-36 very soon Mon Freunds!

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Kevin -You have an e-mail with three files.Tell us how you find the new double header sounds.Phil

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-12-03 AT 02:19 AM (EDT)

Good!Like you said, not PERFECT, but I am very satisfied Phil!I have some whistle sounds I'd like to use too!! Wonder if you could help!! Or you could teach me I guess! Do I have to have a certain audio program?Thanks again,
Kevin Bush,

I will have my hand on the throttle of a K-36 very soon Mon Freunds!

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As an afterthought, if anybody else is interested in the double header sounds, please contact me at philskene@hotmail.comI'll send the three files to you.
Kevin -Sorry, I can't help with the whistle sounds.But you may find the tutorials at the Australian site useful:
http://www.railpage.org.au/steam4me/trainsim/index.htmlAt a minimum you will probably need a wave editing program. I use CoolEditPro, which I think is excellent, but there are others.You might like to try the Sound Forum, but not many people hang out there, which is a great pity because sound is such a fundamental part of the simulation.Phil

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Send them to: cumbres487@comcast.net
Future Cumbres & Toltec or Durango & Silverton Engineer. Go to my informative K-36 page:
http://www.freewebs.com/drgwk36 Visit the Pheasant Hill Railroad's (My G-scale) official site!http://groups.msn.com/MSTSNarrowGauge/ngmodelinggscale.msnwVisit the Red Mountain Gorge Narrow Gauge R.R.'s official
site:
http://groups.msn.com/MSTSNarrowGauge/narrowgaugerouteformsts.msnw

*Proud to be a "Friend" of the Cumbres & Toltec.*

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John -You have an e-mail.The .sms file goes into #483's SOUND sub-folder. It actuates the second locomotive's sounds.483.eng makes a couple of very minor changes to the existing file to make the sound synchronise slightly better.487.eng prevents #487 from making any sounds.The default MSTS Flying Scotsman must be installed. The .sms file draws on these sounds.As with all these cases, you are well advised to make backups!Good luck,
Phil

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I could not agree more with that my friends believe me!
Kevin Bush,

I will have my hand on the throttle of a K-36 very soon Mon Freunds!

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Can you also please send to me. My e-mail address is jonathanmlewis@msn.comThanks
http://groups.msn.com/MSTSNarrowGauge

Jonathan Lewis
jonathanmlewis@msn.com

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